GOSHEN —
Several local private schools have seen a difference in enrollment because of school choice vouchers.
For example, the voucher program, called Choice Scholarships by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), has given 50 students the chance to attend Bethany Christian Schools, according to principal Allen Dueck.
“Students who otherwise may not have considered Bethany look at it as a viable option now,” Dueck said.
The voucher program was instituted last school year by IDOE to give families meeting income requirements funds to send children to private schooling. Dueck said that 28 vouchers were granted for students at Bethany last year, and that number rose for this school year.
“It gives parents a greater choice of schools in the area to choose from, which can only be a good thing,” Dueck said.
Dr. Mark Myers, superintendent of Catholic Schools through the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, said he sees the voucher program as part of Catholic social teaching.
“We think it’s extremely important for parents to have a choice,” Myers said. “Our role in this is helping parents make good decisions by providing them with information.”
Myers said that St. John Evangelist School has 20 children in all grades using vouchers.
“The program is doing what it’s supposed to,” he said. “We’re seeing an increase in enrollment as people are learning how the voucher program works. The children enrolled here are working out very well.”
Smoother process
Enrollment is much smoother this year than last year’s, mainly because of the benefit of time, according to Myers. Last year, schools had only around 50 days to enroll students, and now they have had a year to ask questions and enroll.
“I want to commend the IDOE and the state because this is an expansive program, and it was implemented very well,” Myers said. “Surprisingly enough, we still come across parents who have never heard of the program, but we help them. We haven’t heard any concerns from parents or our schools’ principals.”
Lost some students
Goshen Community Schools Superintendent Diane Woodworth said the program has taken some students away from Goshen’s public schools, though an exact number isn’t known.
“I don’t think the impact is really negative on Goshen schools,” Woodworth said. “We lost some students, but we don’t know the exact number because we don’t have a list. The state is supposed to give us a list of students that use the vouchers, but I’ve honestly never seen it. We know when students transfer, but we don’t know if they’re using vouchers or not.”
Woodworth said enrollment remained steady last year, even growing slightly. Numbers for this coming school year will not be known until students arrive for class Friday.
“Philosophically, I don’t support it,” Woodworth said. “I think that public school money should support public schools, not private.”
‘Not criticism’
Private school staff members don’t see the voucher program as a criticism of public schools or a public school education, said Sue Alberts, the administrator at Elkhart Christian Academy.
“It’s not a criticism at all,” Alberts said. “Some parents want a religious environment for their children’s education. This program has made it easier for families to afford.”
Alberts said 22 students used the voucher program for last year, and 64 students will use it to afford this year’s tuition.
“We see it as a benefit to the family,” Alberts said. “We appreciate the state because this gives the family a choice.”
Alberts said the process for applications last year took longer because it was such a new program, but this year it is even more effective and helpful.
“We’ve had wonderful support from the IDOE,” she said. “Even with all this, the biggest misconception is that people haven’t checked their income levels to see if they qualify. They should be making sure that they have the correct information.”
Staff writer Justin Cripe contributed to this report.
Breaking News
Related Photos
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Bethany Assistant Prinicipal Tim Lehman, left, and guidance counselor Jim Buller talk during a break in staff meetings at the school Wednesday. SAM HOUSEHOLDER | THE GOSHEN NEWS
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